Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-07-30
kALAkAUA AND MR.. GIBSON,
How Hawaifs Deposed Prime Minister
Left Brigham Young in the Lurch.
Especial Correspondence

How Hawaii's Deposed Prime Minister
Left Brigham Young in the Lurch.
Especial Correspondence
SALT LAKE CITY, July 20.
The news Of the rebellion in Hawaii brings
to public notice once more the name Of old
kalakaua, the king of the Sandwich Islands,
and with it Is now coupled the name of n
man who has heretofore been but little heard
of beyond the limits of tho Pacific islands.
This is Walter Murray Gibson, the deposed
prime minister of Kalakaua's kingdom.
Gibson has a history that favors of the
style of Sinbads, and though he NAV not
have experienced all the miracles of fiction
writer's imagination, his life has surely been as
eventual as that of any character ever COLI
ceived. Where he originated do not know but
he first came west about thirty five years ago.
When this city was in its infancy he arrived
here and was attracted by the Mormon faith.
He Joined the saints without hesitation. and
was for long time the trusted lieutenant of
Brigham Young. When he felt that he had
worked himself sufficiently into the confidence
OF the Mormon leader. he proposed a mission
to the Sandwich Islands, to which Young
readily gave his consent. 1t was agreed that
he should devote all his energies to the adj
vancement OF the interests of the Mormon
coiony' winch had then only just been estah
ished Oh one Of the Islands. IL order ,do
his Gibson was given unlimited m.4ns. a,I
tarted ont with every opportunity to rake
ais mission grand success. Arriving at ti.,
stands, however, he saw that he could uso
his time to better advantage than in maxi Z
Mormon converts, SO he decided to leave
Brigham in the lurch.
Taking the funds with which he had been
provided, be fitted out craft end made a
complete inspection of all the Pacific islands.
He carried the thing Off with good deal Of
pomp, SO that in every place where he landed
the natives looked upon him with ave- Ho
Immediately conceived the idea OF bringing
all the islands under one governments, with
himself at the head, but being unable to sur.
mount certain obstacles, this plan was after
ward abandoned. After spending several
years in roaming over the Pacific he returned
to Honolulu and went to work on another
scheme He still had money left. and
by its lavish use he seems TO have in
spired the confidence of the ruler. He was
first given an Insignificant office under the
government, and from this he rose q little at
a time until he reached the top of the Ha-
waian ladder and became prime minister to
the king. His success may be credited rather
to his shrewdness than to his fitness, and there
is no reason to believe that he stopped at anv-
thing for the sake of principle. His steal
from the Mormons was a fair exomnla NJ
what he would do, and his career has been
characterized by many such actions as this
He does not, however, seem to have been un-
grateful to the Utah saints for what thew dill
toward making him successful, for their mis-
slonalles have always been allowed the great
est possible liberties on the islands Their
colony is liz thriving condition, and the
government has always been favorable To
them deeming their polygamy vastly prefer.
able to the promiscuous state of the narive
society.
As prime minister Gibson has been king In
everything except the name. his shrewd engi.
neering always having kept him above Kala-
kaua- His ministry has been tyranuical all,
to great extent opposed to the advancemer.
OF his subjects. As result he became un
popular with the people, and the association
OF the king with Gibson has also dragged him
down in the public estimation.
Gibson is now over 20 years of age, but is
su vigorous and has forgotten none of the |
tricks Of his youth. His latest adventure of |
private nature was to engage himself to a |
young California book agent. The |
young lady, whose name, by the wav. is Miss
st. Clair, began to prepare for the marriage |
when the old man backed out At last az.
counts she was about to bring suit against |
Gibson, placing the damages at $lO0,OOO
King Kalakaua was at one time very nop,,-
ar with his people, and he can no doubt
hank Gibson for the present state of affairs
In his younger days he was a very fair mon
lrch, taking much interest in the welfare of
his people and doing much to win their con.
ldence. Within the past five years, how
'ver, kalakaua has given himself up to .
very unkingly life, and the weakening effects
now themselves in the present political
rouble. Three hundred dancing girls are
'etained for the kings private entertainment
md he is so given to dsbauchery that he can
rot expect to live much longer. He NAV be
llowed to remain on the throne out of re-
pect to what he has been, but he will never
gain be given any power. As will be seen
" the Geographic dispatches, Gibson NAV
consider himself lucky if he escapes with his